It’s the shocker matchup of the Sweet 16 as two double-digit seeds meet after pulling off major upsets to get here.
Miami had a resounding win over Auburn to reach the second weekend while Iowa State stifled the Big Ten regular-season co-champion, Wisconsin. We take a look at this matchup with NCAA Tournament odds from the online sportsbook:
Iowa State vs. Miami Game Details
#11 Iowa State: 22-12 (7-11) | #10 Miami: 27-7 (15-5)
Date: 03/25/2022 | Time: 9:59 PM ET | TV: TBS
Location: Chicago, Illinois | Venue: United Center
Iowa State vs. Miami Odds
Moneyline: Iowa State +120 | Miami -145
Spread: Iowa State +2.5 (-110) | Miami -2.5 (-110)
Total: 133.5 Over -110 | Under -110
Iowa State vs. Miami Analysis
All of the credit in the world needs to go to Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger for even having his team in this position, to begin with.
The former South Dakota State and UNLV head coach has led one of the biggest turnarounds in college basketball this season. The Cyclones have gone from two wins in 2021 to a regional semifinal berth in 2022 with an incredibly stout defense that gave Wisconsin one of their worst offensive performances over the last few seasons.
The concern with Iowa State is their offense and if they can keep up with Miami’s elite guard play which results in a very efficient offense.
They should be able to keep them at bay for many parts of the night, but I’m not sure another 54-point performance like the one against the Badgers will be enough for Iowa State to make it to the Elite Eight. The guard trio of Kameron McGusty, Isaiah Wong, and Charlie Moore exposed Auburn’s strong defense and frontcourt in the Round of 32, which is why this number just feels far too short based on the difference in offensive ability between these two teams.
Iowa State vs. Miami Prediction
The Pick: Miami -2.5 (-110)
